The Sunset
“From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised.” (Psa. 113:3)
Hello Saints,
It is really something to get away from the hustle and bustle of life, and retreat away from the metaphorical rat race that is North American life. Working, busying oneself with a burden of meaningless, non-eternity impacting tasks. So much of what we do seems, to quote the great sage of Ecclesiastes… “meaningless”. Thank God for my wife who forces me to take a break! One does not realize how busy one is until a respite is imposed, as if through some divine intervention, God picks you up and sits you down somewhere and says, “REST!” Well, that’s what the last week has been: A time of letting go of all the worries and cares of the world, and by day 3 or 4, after a purging of body, mind, soul and spirit, just allowing God to rejuvenate, even renew my heart and my mind. I am away…”away from it all”, enjoying the beauty of God’s creation on beautiful Georgian Bay. The weather has been wonderful, enabling canoeing, walks on the beach, quiet fellowship with loved ones, eating ice cream, and ample time to reflect and take it all in – “Cease striving (literally let go and relax) and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”(Psalm 46:10 NASB). It’s another one of those Mary/Martha moments when you realize how easy it is to be a Martha, when God is looking for Marys (Luke 10:38-42). It literally takes me 3 or 4 days to stop being a Martha and become a Mary – to let go of everything and hand control over to God, and say, “Time with You right now, right here is the best choice, and most important thing – the world will not fall apart if I take a break”. It’s a battle friends, but the rewards are worth it!
The amazing thing about “going” on a holiday is it can be a series of “holy days”, when you are finally in that “still” state and you can really “know that He is God”! Let me just paint a brief picture. Two hours north on Georgian Bay and the first thing you notice is the water and all the different shades of blues and greens – crystal clear water even at 20 feet! Incredible rock formations of amazingly intricate patterned granite stone - pinks and beiges and grays and blacks all smoothed and polished with years of pounding waves! Majestic oak trees mixed with massive conifers, laden with birds we don’t normally see at home like the pileated woodpecker, which has a wingspan of 2 ½ feet and is almost 20 inches tall! Beautifully brilliant white seagulls soaring so gracefully in the wind currents able to dive and pluck their delicacies right out of the water. I could go on but let me get to the pinnacle of the majesty of God displayed in His creation. Undoubtedly, the one thing everyone waits for and flocks to the beach to see is the glorious sunsets – brilliant oranges and yellows, getting darker and more intense as the sun descends on the horizons, and in a matter of moments, it is gone, and the landscape is painted with an incredible blend of pinks and purples, and then darkness sets in. All day we enjoy its warmth and light, and then suddenly it is no more.
The rising and the setting of the sun remind us that God is in control. He has established the whole of creation, governs it and oversees it so that all of it functions together according to His will. The writer of Psalm 104 captures the sentiments of those who appreciate the complexities and beauty of God’s creation, “Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty… I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD” (Psa. 104:1,33,34). All of creation is designed to cause people to seek Him, find Him and ultimately desire to know Him through His Son, Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:19-20). There is no greater joy than to know the Creator of the universe on a personal, intimate level through His Son, Jesus. Knowing God brings true joy and gladness.
The sunset is also a metaphor for the end of existence – the sunrise is the beginning of time, and the sunset is the end of it - the setting sun reminds us that one day there will be an end to time as we know it. The whole purpose of life is to know God and to glorify Him, “from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My Name will be great among the nations” (Malachi 1:11). There is no other god to know: “That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things.'(Isaiah 45:6 NKJ). The setting sun reminds us that one day, God will call all of the earth to account to stand before Him in judgment (Psalm 50). In that day, the sun will set for its final time, and then will be no more. The light that lit up the world will be gone, and all those who have put their trust and hope in the Light of the world, even Jesus, will enjoy His presence forever in the new heavens and earth, lit up with the glory of the Lord (Isa. 60:19; Rev. 21:23-25, 22:5).
Here is my conclusion as we pack up to head home from an enlightening time in His presence. All of creation declares the glory of the Lord! The sun points to no other than the “Sun of Righteousness who rises with healing its wings” (Mal. 4:2). One day the Light of the world will return to set up His kingdom. Until then, let us bask in His presence and prepare ourselves for when the sun sets once and for all and we enter the eternal glory promised for all those who know Him and have put their faith and hope in Him. And…let us tell others of this great hope we have in Christ, before the sun sets for the final time.
Be Blessed!
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